to Taiwan!

Have you recently arrived in Taiwan? Feeling a little confused or overwhelmed? Frustrated at being illiterate as you don’t read Mandarin? Don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal and you are not alone! I felt exactly the same way five years ago and wondered how long I would manage to stay here. Now, I don’t want to leave. I love this place: it’s safe, convenient, has many beautiful places to visit and the people are very friendly even through Google Translate. However, I know it can be hard working things out at first, so here are a few suggestions to help you on your new adventure.

Now, I know I’m the Programs Manager there, so you could call me biased, but helping newcomers settle in is part of our job. Our motto is WE ARE HERE TO HELP. We are in Tianmu and we’re open Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, so you can call up or pop in with any question, big or small (Where do I apply for an ARC? Where can I find an English speaking doctor? How do I pay this parking ticket?) or just come and chat with us – we’re a friendly bunch. We offer a wide-ranging program of activities which includes Survival Chinese, hikes, tours, arts & crafts and cooking classes. These are open to anyone and you can register online. We also offer free activities such as our monthly coffee mornings with a different speaker each time and the chance to mingle and meet new people. So the Center is a good starting point to collect information, do activities and meet people. We also provide counseling services in English and Mandarin for children, adults and couples who need a little extra support.

Social Media

7/11, Family Mart and Hi-Life are convenience stores that you see everywhere in Taiwan and they really do live up to their name. Not only can you buy hot and cold food and drinks but you can also pay household bills; collect parcels; top up your EasyCard and make photocopies. In addition, they both have machines where you can pay parking tickets, make payments for theatre tickets, sports events, etc. There is an option in English but staff are very helpful and will come and help you out at the machine if you get stuck. Finally, these stores usually have an ATM and often have a restroom so they are truly a one-stop shop.

If you’re looking for a specific group of people who share your interests then look at Meetup Taiwan: https://www.meetup.com/ find/taiwan/. There are all sorts of groups here from language exchange to foodie to hiking to technology. If you only attend one meeting of one of these groups, the chances are you’ll meet someone like-minded who can share their experiences or suggestions.

Facebook has a lot of groups depending on your needs and interests. These are some of the groups that people find particularly useful and I think their names are self-explanatory:

• FIT (Friends in Taiwan)

• Tianmu Events

• Taipei Parents

• Taipei Ladies

• Taipei Expats

• Buy Nothing Taipei

• Taipei: Buy, Sell, Trade

• Parkbus Taiwan

APPs

There are a whole host of apps that can be useful. Here are a few to look out for:

• LINE - all the locals use this rather than Whatsapp and it has groups for different activities.

• Uber – for cars

• Find a taxi – when there is no Uber service

• Ubereats or Foodpanda – for food (ready cooked or groceries) delivered to your home

• TRA – to book your train tickets – or if you’re old-fashioned like me then the website is: https://tip.railway.gov.tw/tratip-web/tip?lang=EN_US

• T-EX – to book high speed rail tickets

• Bus Tracker Taipei – bus timetables and routes

• OPENTIX – to buy tickets for events

• Yun duan fa piao - scan the code on your receipt and see if you’ve won the lottery

Transport

Wellbeing

Obviously, we hope that you won’t need to visit the doctor early on in your stay in Taiwan. However, it’s always good to be prepared. The Taiwan Adventist in central Taipei and Taipei Veterans in Tianmu are two of the largest hospitals and many staff speak English. On their websites, you can select the department you need: cardio, dermatology, etc and make an appointment with the doctor of your choice.

The MRT, bus and train systems are very efficient and remarkably easy to use. The first thing to do is buy an EasyCard which you can do at any MRT station. The card costs NT$100 and then you add credit. You can also top up your card at the ticket machines. You can use this card for the MRT, buses (swipe it when you get on and off) and local trains (no need to buy a ticket); for HSR and express trains you do need to buy a ticket in advance..

Cycling is another option and there are Ubike stands available all over Taipei which make it very easy. Before using a Ubike for the first time, you need to register your EasyCard at a kiosk which you can find at most Ubike stands. Be aware that to register you need a Taiwan phone number. Once you’ve registered you can swipe and go! While it is easy to get around Taipei using public transport, some newcomers want to use a scooter or car. You are allowed to drive for a year with an international driving license from SOME countries, it depends on the agreement Taiwan has with the country you come from. If you plan to stay here for longer then you will need to exchange your home-country license for a Taiwanese one or take the test to get a Taiwanese license, again depending on the agreement Taiwan has with the country you come from. Visit this website for more information: https://tpcmv.thb.gov.tw/cl.aspx?n=9456. Alternatively, if you need assistance Adorbiker is a company that can help with this process for both scooters and cars: www.adorbiker.com

Have you reached information overload? It’s probably time for me to stop. Don’t forget, you can call The Center on 02-28368134 or visit us. We’re a ten-minute walk from Zhishan station and right above Family Mart so you can pay your bills at the same time! When you’re in the area drop in and say hello.

Lucy Torres is the Programs Manager at The Center and enjoys organising different activities and events that cover topics from Taiwanese culture to environmental awareness.